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Cybersecurity · head to head

Passbolt vs SonarQube

Passbolt logo

Passbolt

Cybersecurity

Open-source password manager for teams with self-hosted or cloud deployment

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite
SonarQube logo

SonarQube

Developer Tools

Code quality and code security for clean code, at every step

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Passbolt pro Edition requires a minimum of 10 users, making it costlier for very small teams.; SonarQube advanced Security add-on uses custom pricing
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Passbolt and SonarQube actually diverge.

Attributes where Passbolt and SonarQube differ
AttributePassboltSonarQube
Pricing modelopen-sourcesubscription
Platformsweb, windows, mac, linux, apiWeb
CategoryCybersecurityDeveloper Tools

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Passbolt

  • Password sharing and folders
  • Groups and role-based access
  • Browser extensions and CLI
  • Open API
  • LDAP provisioning and SSO
  • Activity audit log

Only in SonarQube

Nothing recorded that Passbolt does not also cover.

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Passbolt

  • Self-hosting a team password manager for data sovereigntynot SonarQube
  • Provisioning vault access from an existing LDAP/AD directorynot SonarQube
  • Sharing credentials across engineering or IT teams via folders and groupsnot SonarQube
  • Automating credential retrieval through the CLI or open APInot SonarQube

SonarQube

  • Code quality analysisnot Passbolt
  • Vulnerability detectionnot Passbolt
  • Security scanningnot Passbolt
  • Compliance reportingnot Passbolt

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Passbolt

  • Pro Edition requires a minimum of 10 users, making it costlier for very small teams.
  • Community Edition lacks SSO and LDAP provisioning, which many organizations need for onboarding at scale.
  • Self-hosting the Community Edition requires infrastructure and maintenance effort compared to fully managed competitors.
  • Enterprise-tier support and HA consulting require custom, quote-based pricing rather than transparent rates.

SonarQube

  • Advanced Security add-on uses custom pricing
  • Only private project lines of code count toward limits

Pricing, plan by plan

Passbolt

Free
  • Community EditionFree
    • Unlimited users
    • Password sharing and folders
    • Role-based access control
  • Pro Edition$4.9/month
    • Minimum 10 users, billed annually
    • LDAP/AD provisioning
    • Single sign-on
  • Enterprise Edition$undefined/month
    • High availability and disaster recovery consulting
    • White-glove migration
    • Custom feature development

SonarQube

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Supports up to 50000 lines of code in private projects
    • Never expires
    • Covers public projects
  • Team$34/month
    • 30+ languages
    • Code quality standards
    • Bug and vulnerability detection
  • Enterprise$null/custom
    • Advanced security reports
    • OWASP/CWE/PCI DSS compliance
    • Unlimited users and projects

Which should you pick?

Choose Passbolt if

  • You need password sharing and folders.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on web, windows, mac, linux, api.
  • You also want groups and role-based access.
Passbolt review

Choose SonarQube if

  • You want to start without paying.
SonarQube review

Questions people ask

Is Passbolt or SonarQube better?
Neither clearly leads. Passbolt starts at Free and SonarQube at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Passbolt or SonarQube?
Passbolt starts at Free and SonarQube at Free.
Does Passbolt or SonarQube run on more platforms?
Passbolt runs on web, windows, mac, linux, api. SonarQube runs on Web.
Can I use Passbolt for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Passbolt best used for?
Passbolt is most often used for self-hosting a team password manager for data sovereignty, provisioning vault access from an existing ldap/ad directory, sharing credentials across engineering or it teams via folders and groups, automating credential retrieval through the cli or open api. Of those, self-hosting a team password manager for data sovereignty and provisioning vault access from an existing ldap/ad directory are not what SonarQube is typically brought in for.
What can Passbolt do that SonarQube cannot?
Passbolt covers Password sharing and folders, Groups and role-based access, Browser extensions and CLI, Open API.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Passbolt: Is Passbolt free to use?

Yes. The Community Edition is free forever with unlimited users, including password sharing, folders, groups, role-based access, browser extensions, a CLI, and an open API.

Source
SonarQube: How much does SonarQube cost?

SonarQube offers a free tier supporting up to 50000 lines of code in private projects, a Team plan starting at $34/month, and custom Enterprise pricing. Team plan includes 14-day free trial.

Source
Passbolt: What does the Pro Edition cost and add?

Pro Edition costs $4.90 per user per month billed annually, with a 10-user minimum, and adds LDAP/AD provisioning, single sign-on, account recovery escrow, activity audit logs, and next-business-day support.

Source
SonarQube: Is SonarQube free?

Yes, SonarQube offers a free tier that never expires and covers both public and private projects up to 50000 lines of code in private projects.

Source
Passbolt: What license is Passbolt distributed under?

All Passbolt editions, including Pro and Enterprise, are distributed under the AGPL v3 open-source license.

Source
SonarQube: What languages does SonarQube support?

SonarQube Team plan supports 30+ languages including common programming languages. Enterprise plan adds support for 40+ languages including ABAP, COBOL, and Apex.

Source
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